The President of Sofia University Ivan Ilchev (left) opened Wednesday the 120th school year in Bulgaria's oldest institution of higher education. Photo by Yuliana Nikolova (Sofia Photo Agency)
Bulgaria's Education Minister Daniel Valchev stated Wednesday the subsidy of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences was equal to the money that would be spent to transport Sofia's garbage to the dumpsite in the northeast city of Silistra.
Valchev made this statement after he took part in the ceremony for the opening of the 120th-school year at Bulgaria's oldest higher education institution - the Sofia University St. Kliment of Ohrid.
The Minister promised the funds for higher education would be increased by 25% in 2009, which means additional BGN 70-75 M. Most this subsidizing, however, will go to the universities, and little will be left for the Academy of Sciences, whose total subsidy amounts to BGN 80 M at present.
Velechev also announced that by 2013 Bulgaria must set up at least three university research complexes with significant outside funding. He explained only 0,4% of the country's GDP were allocated to the science sector, and that the realistic goal was to allocate 0,7% by 2010, and 1% by 2013.